it's all in my head...

June 03, 2006

If this life be not a real fight, in which something is eternally gained for the universe by success, it is no better than a game of private theatricals from which one may withdraw at will. But it feels like a real fight.

April 02, 2006

Cancun, Mexico will be seen differently than just a spring break spot. Last Thursday, the president addressed the importance of border security. Also, Bush made clear that border security is not, "one country's prerogative."

When the president touched on the vision of such a legislation that's committed to be "comprehensive." In the sense that is would secure the boarder through "interior enforcement" and "a worker permit program."

As of April 1st, this legislative sent shock waves across the country.

In retaliation of the ban put on flag waving, the students of Skyline High School in Colorado protested.

Stated by Skyline High School Principal Tom Stumpf, "When it involves the American flag and its abuse in vilifying other people, we simply will not tolerate it...They were using the symbol derisively as misguided patriotism."

Apart of the 150 students protesting, Laura Avitia says,"People are taking it to a whole other level...I don't think they know why we were protesting."

"The enormous turnout at immigration rallies in Los Angeles took this city, the country, and much of the media by surprise — but not the Spanish-language media, because they played an active role in getting the word out."

"If one thing, the march is making the rest of the country aware that this is a powerful community, one whose power should not be underestimated."

The New York Times made a point that these immigration laws were bigger than the majority who marched (Latin Americans), but that it was about the thousands of immigrant rights supporters. Visually speaking, "formed a line stretching more than a mile long."

March 19, 2006

As difficult as it was to put together a 5-6 minute speech on a broad topic such as "art imitates life" -- I used the method of film with two films in mind, Crash & Fahrenheit 9/11.

In a post 9/11 society—it is important to understand the significance of film and the media in our lives. Art imitates life through film because film is a strong communicator. Film is art whether it’s non-fiction, as a documentary like Fahrenheit 9/11 or fiction such as the movie, Crash.

The art of film is that a director communicates visually what story he wants to tell. It is through the composition and transition that simulate the eye visually. Camera angles, lighting, editing are the tools in which filmmakers develop their story.

Film can be strong, passionate, thought provoking and persuasive from a director’s POV.

In the book ‘Nonfiction film’ Richard Barsam says about film, " its true value lies in its insight into the human condition and its vision for improving it."

Like director’s, we as an audience want to understand all the information that is coming from all different sides, such as the news, technology and the beliefs of the individual.

The strong majority that was surveyed from this class believed there is a chaotic amount of information that the audience must digest—to a point where America feel desensitized.

By looking at the blurred lines of film and also as film-goers we can gain an in-depth perspective through film than the journalistic media alone.

In French, documentaries are known as verite (truth) than reality. Documentarians trust this term because it is seen as the relationship to what’s shown—tempered by the overall truth (the director’s prospective) of the situation. 52% surveyed realized that documentaries on war do affect you personally; whether you had mixed emotions towards the film being bias, and/or boring. One solution is for you to realize there are more documentaries out there—(see netfix.com, blockbuster.com) where variety and availability is key because 38% believes that documentaries can be interesting, informative and educational if they were more objective.

So to meet the theory half way, I encourage you to also be objective and when you view documentaries and film in general because the key thing is that it is all fiction—one way or another.

Documentarian, Barry Hempe believes you can not escape fiction even when filmmakers are producing a documentary. Even non-fiction films have fiction in them—the boundaries are blurred between fiction and non-fiction because of the director’s prospective. When the director uses different techniques of lighting, editing, and focus which all persuades the audience’s thinking—leading them to believe what they see.

If you think the media has such breaking news---look at the accessibility the common Joe has when photos and video can be taken by the touch of a button on your cell phone. Look how we have access to so much information via the internet and portable/inexpensive audio/recording devices.

And when we question the credibly of film—think about how much it has advanced by being able to directly film an actual event. Moore capitalizes on finding people out by just shoving a portable video camera in their face. The marketing budget alone for Fahrenheit 9/11 towered over any known marketing budget for a documentary. In the USA Today article from June 2004, reveals the distributors of Fahrenheit 9/11 spent up to $10 million on marketing. That’s peanuts compared with the $40 million marketing budgets of Hollywood blockbusters, but a record for a documentary and nearly double Fahrenheit’s $6 million cost.

We don’t have to let the media dictate what is real, nor allow film to be what it isn’t—reality. Documentarian, Barry Hempe believes, “a craftsman values the work.” We can apply that same thinking when we research artistic and journalistic media, when we can respect the director’s prospective; without necessarily condoning it. You’re going to broaden your prospective if you have more information. Steps you can take allows you to gain a well-rounded prospective when you go back to the source of what’s really being reported.

When we discuss media coverage, like in Fahrenheit 9/11– we have to do our part to legitimize the information we receive. Also, be as proactive as you can. The urgency isn’t in getting caught up in the mass media, but to be able to be objective as you want your media to be objective. Film is such a strong communicator because of its strength to use images, movement, time, sounds that develop a world in which the audience can become apart of.

The one thing I love about movies is there way to connect with the audience, but once they break that connection it’s lost for good. Personally, I feel a fictional movie such as CRASH connects more with audiences than a nonfiction film like Fahrenheit 9/11 because of its artist ability to keep that connection with imagery, time, sound, and dialogue.

THE VIDEO: Given that the director chooses certain images & angles for a reason, the powerful usage of fact and fiction is seen in Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11’s climactic scene ‘black screen’ when the towers are hit. And by the beginning scene of Crash—the director uses the out-of-focus images and lights to set the mood that engulfs the dialogue.

December 12, 2005

I had been searching on the net for current events concerning "college student" and came across this distrubing article; Drained.

It was an eye opener to see the mental as well as the physical effects of having acne. It is certainly a vicious cycle and the last few sentences proves there isn't a happy ending in this reality.

If I knew that, knew that the symptoms were as bad as the pimples themselves, I never would have offered my face to Dr. Weinberg's scalpel. I undressed and went into the shower, turning on the faucet and leaning my head into the sharp, cold water. I washed my face with noncomedogenic soap.

After showering and dressing, I walked to the kitchen and poured a glass of water. Fingering the trial package of Accutane, I thought, briefly, that I didn't need it, didn't need the stress, the dryness and the blood tests to check my liver function. I could clear up my skin some other way.

Then I thought better of it and tore open the package. I pried two oblong magenta pills from their tinfoil crypts, placed them on my tongue, took a sip of water, and swallowed.

October 16, 2005

So I took a short vacation to Chicago to see a film I have been keeping tabs on since Sundance 2005. BRICK played at an AMC theater in downtown Chicago for two nights. My ticket was for the Friday night premier on Oct. 14th.

As I took the transit into the city I found it somewhat beautiful. the mixture of time periods and economic features of the buildings that stood side-by-side as if one didn't reflect the other. It was really something. Because of the time constrants I was only able to shoot traveling shots to the city, not very many in town. You will notice a picture of the book Atonement and that will be something else to talk about in the future. I may even post the video I took while on the road, but I'm going to view it first *smiles*

As for BRICK, Rian (writer/director) had definitely made some revisions to the film that certainly strengthen it. It surely had a pulse that kept the viewer glued to the screen. From the first time I had seen it at Sundance, I made sure not to look away. One of the things that make BRICK interesting to watch is angles in which the audience views the action scenes. It's really in your face.

July 19, 2005

I'm taking a break from compiling all the who, what, when, where and why significant from the study guide my summer American history class is pulling out of me.

I said a few days back that I had an idea of a story that reflects the image I made. (see graphic below)

Well, for a very general and yet massively contained subject; worth an absence amount of points (48 to be exact -- which is half of my final grade) tells me to develop a thesis of a (not most significant) significant event during the periods of 1492 & 1877. but the catch is that I need to include ample references to support my statement; and I can not be vague.

If I sit back for a moment and really look at the assignment, it doesn't look as bad, but for only having 3 days to develop such an answer encourages pressure, due to the fact that I maintain a full-time job and outside activities (which for the sake of argument, I have put the "outside activities" on hold for the time being).

therefore, to get back to my original statement which is stated in the title of this entry: I found my story within my final essay!

In reference to the US Constitution:

Areas of interest:

Development of civilization and human interaction towards one another

Protection of the citizens from the government

Protection of the government from itself

A symbol in itself – like many events throughout the development of the New World, the sheer idea of an event like the constitution may not be perfect in one ditch effort, but recognizing its short comings and allowing change and growth is what makes the constitution great. Not willing to give up!Where people fall short, a legislation that can span from generation to generation.

Therefore, even though my graphic reveals an action of a human being holding back or maybe not giving up; something intangible like a document can sure remind you what the fight is all about.